Friday, November 15, 2025 A ticket sold in Georgia won a $980 million jackpot in the Mega Millions drawing.making it the highest award given to the game in state history. The event affected thousands of lottery players in the United States and was a milestone in terms of prize size and breaking the historic streak of no major winners.
According to information released by NBC Miamithe winning combination consisted of Mega Ball number 7, plus numbers 1, 8, 11, 12, and 57. The Mega Millions organization reported that the amount originally calculated at $965 million has been revised upwards, ranking it eighth among the largest prizes in the history of the game..
The pre-draw situation was characterized by one of the longest droughts without a jackpot in the history of the draw. Mega Millions last delivered a grand jackpot in June 2025. Since then, there have been 40 consecutive drawings without anyone matching all the numbers, according to the organization’s official records.
The main prize drawn on November 15, 2025 has arrived $980 millionThe organization reported. mega millions. The original calculation was 965 million, but the final amount rose due to cumulative ticket sales and lack of winners.
The lucky winners will have two payment options to choose from: Annual income distributed over 30 payments Add these together to get the announced total. Immediate cash payment of $452.2 million According to data published and collected by the organization, pre-tax NBC Miami. Both methods are subject to federal and state taxation depending on the winner’s jurisdiction of residence, so your choice of method will affect the net amount you receive.
The winning ticket was sold to georgiaSouthern states of America. This is the largest Mega Millions prize ever awarded in the jurisdiction, according to the lottery’s official database. The last time a Georgia player won a Mega Millions jackpot was in 2016, and the amount was much smaller.
For Georgians, the impact is two-fold. The award brings national attention to the state and further increases the lottery’s appeal among residents. of Mega Millions spokesperson “” I confirmed.The winning ticket is the largest single prize for the state of Georgia since the lottery’s inception.According to information collected by NBC Miami.
According to the official announcement on the website, the numbers 1, 8, 11, 12, 57 and Mega Ball 7 were won in the draw corresponding to the aforementioned dates. mega millions. Participation tickets must match the total combination of 5 main numbers selected from a group of 70 and a mega ball selected from a set of 25 balls, according to the official rules.
This mechanism has been the same for many years and is common to all states where Mega Millions participates. The system, detailed by a lottery spokesperson, aims to ensure a wide range of participants with randomness and very low odds of winning.
Mega Millions is one of the largest lotteries in the United States. Forty-five states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, are eligible to participate in the lottery.. Currently, ticket value is $5 per official play.
According to data updated and referenced by the organization, the odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 290,472,336. NBC Miami. These odds have changed little in recent years, establishing this draw as one of the most difficult draws in terms of accessing the cumulative jackpot.
According to the official rules, mega millionsholders of winning tickets have two payment options.
- pension: 30 annual installments, each payment larger than the last. Total pre-tax proceeds amount to an announced $980 million.
- cash: A one-time payment of $452.2 million in present value, with a significant taxable amount.
of mega millions lottery confirmed in NBC Miami Both options are available to those who verify the authenticity of their winning tickets within the regulatory deadlines set by each state.
Prizes from lotteries such as Mega Millions are subject to tax withholding at both the federal and state levels, the lottery organization explained. As a general rule, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) imposes an initial withholding of 24% on prizes over $5,000. In addition, additional fees may apply in each state in which the winning ticket is issued.
in the case of georgiaAccording to current tax law, the state tax rate on lottery winnings is 5.75%. Prize recipients will therefore have a reduced net amount available to them based on mandatory deductions, the report explains. NBC Miami.
In addition to the jackpots awarded in Georgia, Ticket sold in Michigan wins $3 million after matching 5 key numbers without the Mega Ball. According to a summary published by the association, on the day of the draw, more than 1.1 million winning tickets were distributed among secondary prizes in various categories. mega millions organization.
These prizes cover a variety of economic ranges and depend on the number of correct answers. This means that the winners will be more frequent, but the amounts will be lower, compared to the main prize pools.
Mega Millions has awarded seven prizes totaling over $980 million. All of them have reached or exceeded the 1 billion barrier, according to the agency’s audit. The largest prize in history was $1.602 million, to be awarded in 2023, according to the organization and a 2016 publication. NBC Miami.
Georgia’s recent award ranks No. 8 on the national historic list, which is an important reference for both the players and the public’s perception of the magnitude of this lottery.
According to a report compiled by NBC MiamiSome US states allow winners of drawings such as Mega Millions to receive their prizes anonymously. This possibility is aimed at protecting against attacks, fraud or unwanted demands on financial resources. Authorities in each state define requirements and procedures for maintaining anonymity or publishing winner data.
In a specific case, georgiaCurrent rules require the disclosure of the names and residences of winners of substantial prizes, but the legislation under consideration says there are several mechanisms to limit exposure, especially if they are a vulnerable population or required for personal safety.
After winning the grand prize, the group mega millions Reset the pot to the base amount. According to the official schedule, the next draw will be held on Tuesday, November 18th. Initial cumulative total of $50 millionthe amount can increase as the number of draws with no winners progresses.
The amount that can be paid in cash for the next draw is 23.1 million, an option that applies if six key numbers match. This is detailed in the Mega Millions Overview details published at the end of the last draw.
State agencies, financial advisors and lawyers in the United States typically advise lottery winners to go to a professional organization and seek legal and tax advice before claiming any amount, in order to minimize risk and plan the management of the funds won.
Georgia Gaming Commission and mega millions lottery We have reiterated many times that to reduce the risk of incidents and fraud, winners must protect the validity of their tickets, communicate directly with official offices, and avoid media exposure when unnecessary.
conferment of The $980 million prize awarded to a single winner in Georgia is a milestone for the Lottery and for the public’s perception of the state and National Lottery.. In accordance with the Mega Millions structure and regulations in place in the state of Georgia, prize amounts, media coverage, and historical precedent will increase interest for new participants, enhance subsequent picture collection, and allocate a portion of the proceeds to education, health care, and public works programs.
The Mega Millions cycle continues as set forth in the General Rules, and each time a jackpot is won, the jackpot is restarted and new expectations are established for future drawings.
About The Author
